San Diego

Tom Shepard, whose firm managed the mayoral campaign of Roger Hedgecock, testified Wednesday that he probably discussed the former mayor’s desire to run for office with Nancy Hoover Hunter before forming the company in which Hunter was a limited partner.

The firm, Shepard & Associates, subleased space from the J. David investment house in 1982 and 1983, Shepard said.

His testimony at the fraud trial of Hunter provoked emotional exchanges between Shepard and Assistant U. S. Atty. Stephen Clarke.

After being asked by Clarke about a statement he signed in 1986, which was part of a plea bargain agreement in the case concerning money being illegally directed to Hedgecock’s campaign, Shepard said he was pursued by people driven by political interests, including a district attorney seeking a “publicity stunt.”

“That confession that I signed was like the confessions that Chinese students are being forced to sign now,” Shepard said.

The statement was related to a $3,000 check that Shepard said came from J. David (Jerry) Dominelli. In the document, he said the money was to go to the Hedgecock campaign, but Shepard would not verify that in Wednesday’s testimony.

His 40-minute appearance on the stand, which will continue Tuesday morning, led defense attorney Richard Marmaro to ask for a mistrial.

Marmaro, whose motion was cut short by a fire drill in the Federal Building downtown, said Shepard’s testimony was of “entirely irrelevant matter.”

Apparently, Marmaro was concerned with the disclosure to the jury that Shepard pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of violating state campaign contribution laws, because Hunter was also convicted in that case.

Marmaro is expected to resume his argument Friday when the trial resumes.

Outside the courtroom after his testimony, Shepard refused to answer a reporter’s question about the trial, saying: “I made a promise to myself” not to comment.